Link for sprinklers.



F. EVANS.

LiNK FOR SPRINKLERS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-21I 1915.

1,283,124. Patented Oct. 29, 1918.

Imam/7 07: Pow/ell Eva- 16 rm: mmms Plrtns mm. mm urn-0.. msmuunm, v c.

POWELL EVANS, 0E PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

LINK non sPRINKLnns.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oct. ea, rare.

Application filed December 27, 1915. Serial No. 68,863.

To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, POWELL EVANS, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented Links for Sprinklers, of which the following is a specification.

One object of my invention is to provide a relativel simple, compact and inexpensive form of fusible link or temperature responsive connection particularly designed for detaohably connecting the valve retaining levers of an automatic sprinkler in positions to hold the valve closed, the construction being such that while under normal conditions by far the greater part of the stress applied to the link is transmitted through the infusible portions thereof, these are so formed and mounted that upon the fusing of the solder by which they are connected they will certainly separate to allow separation of the levers connected tothem and allow opening of the sprinkler valve.

I further desire to provide a novel form of sprinkler link with two substantially parallel members and a third member interposed between them in such manner as to normally relieve the fusible solder of the link from' the greater part of thestress exerted thereon by the valve holdinglevers and wlnch in addition shall be. of such a nature as to facilitate the separation of said parallel men1- here when the solder fuses.

These objects and other advantageous ends I secure as hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying draw: ings, in which,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an automatic sprinkler'equipped with my invention' Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively a front elevation and a vertical section on a somewhat enlarged scale, further illustrating the detail construction of the link itself, and

Fig. 4 is a detached perspective of the mfusible parts of the link..

In the above drawings 1 represents an open yoke or frame having at one end a tubular threaded extension 2 designed to be screwed into a fitting formlng part of a sprinkler system and provided with a valve seat 3 normally closed by a valve l. Projecting through the frame at a point opposite said extension 2 is a stud 5 carrying a dished water-distributing member 6, which is downwardly concave and has its edges provided with a series of radially d sposed notches and 8 preferably of different depths. The valve 4 is normally maintained in its closed position by twolevers 9 and 10 having outwardly projecting arms formed with hooks at their extremities designed to be connected by a fusible link 11.

One of these levers engages the valve at and the other engages a portion of the first lever and the inner end of the stud 5.

The fusible link 11 consists of two substantiall parallel plates 12 and 13 each having adjacent one end an opening 14: for the reception of one of the lever hooks ;-the metal pressed out in forming said opening being bent at an angle with the plane of its member and constituting a solder retaining tongue 15. The opposite end of each plate is notched at 16 and there are provided two or any other suitable number of spacing lugs or projections 17 which in the present case are shown as on opposite sides of the opening 14.

At suitable points on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of each plate are two circular holes 18 designed for the reception of metal balls 19 whose diameter is preferably slightly greater than that of said holes, and when the parts are assembled prior to being sweatedtogether, the projections 17 space the plates 12 and 13 a predetermined distance apart. .The two balls or rolling members are confined between said plates in such manner that owing to'the difference between their diameter and that of the holes 18, they cannot fall out. The parts are then sweated or soldered together by some metal or alloy, indicated at 20, having a relatively low but predetermined fusing point, whereby the several parts are held in the positions shown in Figs. 2 and 3 ;the notch 16 of each plate receiving or permitting the passage of the tongue 15 of the other plate. Said fusible material extends in the space between the two plates and enters the cavity or space between the tongue 15 of each plate and the adjacent notched edge of the other plate.

With this arrangement of parts, when the finished link is used to connect the projecting arms of the levers 9 and 10, the greater part of the stress exerted on it by said levers when the stud 5 is set up is transmitted through the balls 19 and but a relatively small component of said stress is exerted on the solder or fusible material connecting the parts of the link.

' When the temperature in the vicinity of failure of the solder under the stress applied the link rises above a predetermined point. the fusing of the solder permits the plates 12 and 13 to separate longitudinally, while at the link prematurely separating owing to the when the temperature is normal although said parts will separate with certainty upon the fusing of the connecting solder, thereby permitting the levers 9 and 10 to move apart. Thereupon the valve 4 of the sprinkler head is released, which permits the delivery of fire extinguishing fluid in the well known manner.-

1. A fusible link consisting of two plates each having an opening; a rolling element mounted betweensaid plates and proportioned to extend partially through the openings thereof while of dimensions incapable of passing completely through the same; with a relatively fusible material separably connecting said plates.

2. A fusible link consisting of two plates each having a circular opening; a ball of greater diameter than said openings mounted between the plates and projecting partly through the same; with a body of relatively fusible material separably connecting the plates.

8. A fusible link consisting of two plates each having a circular opening and spaced apart; a ball of greater diameter than that of the openings and projecting into the lat' ter; with a relatively fusible material separably connecting the plates and the ball.

4. A fusible link consisting of two plates each having a pair of circular openings arranged on a line at right angles to its longi tudinal axis; two balls mounted between the plates and each of larger diameter than the openings. projecting partially through one pair of adjacent openings; with rela tively fusible material connecting the plates. 5. A fusible link consisting of two substantially parallel plates having. means for spacing them a definite distance apart and each provided with at least one opening; atleast one rolling member mounted between the plates and proportioned to extend partially through the openings thereof while being held by the plates from complete passage; and a fusible material separably connecting the plates.

6. A fusible link consisting of two plates each having a tongue struck out of one end to form a lever-receiving opening and also provided with an opening through-its main portion; a rolling member mounted between the plates and projecting partiallythrough the openings in the same; with fusible 1112.- terial connecting the plates and said member and extending into the pockets formed by the struck up tongue of one plate and the adjacent end of the other. V

.7. A fusible link consisting of two substantially fiat plates each notched at one end and provided with a struck up tongue at the other end to form a lever-receiving opening, each plate being provided with spacing lugs and at least one opening through its body; with a rolling member mounted between the plates and extending partially through the body openings thereof the projecting lugs of one plate engaging the other plate on opposite sides of its notch; the struck up tongue on each plate extending into the notch of the other plate; with a body of relatively fusible material separably connecting the plates and the rolling member.

'POWVELL EVANS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G. r 

